Fulham's Dempsey first American to reach 10 goals in EPL season.

By Robert Wagman (in Washington, D.C.)SoccerTimes

(Thursday, March 24, 2011) -- Clint Dempsey became the first American ever to score 10 goals during a English Premier League season when the Fulham attacker beat United States teammate and goalkeeper Tim Howard. It was too little, too late for Fulham, however, with Everton going on to win 2-1.

In the 61st minute, Dempsey received a pass just outside the penalty area. As he moved to his left he sent a hard, low shot past Howard into a corner of the net. But Everton used goals from Seamus Coleman and Louis Saha to fashion the victory with Howard ending with only one save.

Dempsey's tally allowed him to surpass the previous American mark set by Brian McBride, who scored nine times in league for Fulham in both the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons. Dempsey also has one non-league goal this season, coming in a Cup match.

American keeper Brad Friedel had a pair of saves for Aston Villa in a 1-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. He made a fine stop when he went down at the foot of his post to keep out hard shot from Adam Hammill. Then he dove to deny a dipping 25-yard drive from Nenad Milijas.

There was little Friedel could do when Milijas delivered a cross from the right, Christophe Berra flicked the ball on to Matthew Jarvis, who used his first touch to hit a shot that scraped a post before settling in the net.

U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley once again dressed for Aston Villa, but he did not play. American keeper Marcus Hahnemann was Wolves' backup.

U.S. defender Jonathan Spector did not dress for West Ham United, which drew 0-0 Saturday with Tottenham Hotspur.

In the second-tier English League Championship, American defender Zak Whitbread, despite nursing a sore back, scored to give Norwich City a one-goal lead in an eventual 1-1 draw Saturday with Hull City. American Brad Guzan was in goal for Hull and made seven saves.

In the 27th minute, Guzan came out of his goal to control a free kick from his opposite number, David Fox. Whitbread, however, was there to get his head on the ball first and snapped a header into the open goal.

American defender Eric Lichaj, who has been called in by the U.S. men to replace Whitbread for two upcoming friendlies, played 90 minutes and was responsible for an own goal for Leeds United, which dropped a 2-0 decision Saturday to Sheffield United.

American striker Eddie Johnson played 74 minutes for Preston North End in its 2-1 victory over Coventry City on Saturday.

American forward Conor Doyle watched from the Derby County bench a 2-2 draw Saturday with Crystal Palace.

American striker Robbie Findley is still out with a thigh injury and unavailable for Nottingham Forest's 3-2 loss to Swansea City.

In the third-tier League One, American defender Frank Simek went 90 minutes for Carlisle United in its 1-0 win Saturday over Bournemouth.

American midfielder Anton Peterlin went the distance for Plymouth Argyle, which fell 1-0 to Rochdale on Saturday.

American forward Mike Grella played 62 minutes for Swindon Town in a 0-0 draw Saturday with Huddersfield Town.

In one of the most important matches of the year in Scotland, U.S. midfielder Maurice Edu played the full 120 minutes for Glasgow Rangers in their 2-1 overtime triumph over arch-rival Glasgow Celtic Sunday in the Scottish Co-operative Insurance Cup (Scottish League Cup) championship match.

Last Thursday, Edu played 90 minutes as Rangers saw their Europa League run end with a 1-0 home loss to PSV Eindhoven, the Dutch Eredivisie leader. Rangers lost 1-0 on aggregate after a scoreless draw at Eindhoven.

In the German Bundesliga, Steve Cherundolo nursing a mild groin strain, nevertheless went the full 90 minutes in Hannover 96's 2-0 win Saturday over TSG Hoffenheim.

U.S. midfielder DaMarcus Beasley did not dress for Hannover.

German-American defender Timothy Chandler celebrated his first call up to the U.S. men by being ejected with two yellow cards in 72 minutes for 1. FC Nürnberg, a 3-1 loser Saturday to Werder Bremen.

U.S. midfielder Ricardo Clark started and played the first hour for Eintracht Frankfurt in a 2-1 victory Saturday over St. Pauli. He received a yellow card.

American keeper Daniel Williams is out with a knee injury for SC Freiburg, which lost 2-1 Saturday to Bayern Munich.

In the second-division 2.Bundesliga, American keeper David Yelldell kept a clean sheet Friday, making three saves for MSV Duisburg which defeated Fortuna Dusseldorf 1-0.

American striker Edson Buddle played the first 76 minutes for FC Ingolstadt 04 in a 1-1 draw with Hertha Berlin on Friday.

American defender Amaechi Igwe, still out with a knee injury, did not dress for Ingolstadt. American defender\midfielder Alfredo Morales dressed, but did not play for Hertha.

American keeper Luis Robles was on the bench for Karlsruhe in its 5-1 loss Friday to TSV 1860 Munich. American forward Bobby Wood dressed, but did not play for Munich.

In France, U.S. defender Carlos Bocanegra started and played 55 minutes for St. Etienne in its 0-0 draw with Lorient on Saturday. He left the match in what was described as precautionary move after suffering a blow to his calf.

In the Netherlands, Oguchi Onyewu dressed, but was rested by Twente Enschede, which defeated Excelsior 2-0 on Sunday.

The U.S. defender and a number of his teammates were exhausted after last Thursday's emotional Europa League match, a 3-2 aggregate victory over Zenit St. Petersburg in Russia.

Twente went into the Round-of-16 match seemingly safe after a 3-0 home-leg win, but Zenit scored twice in the opening half and Twente had to hold on for the 3-2 aggregate decision.

Onyewu returned to the center of defense after several matches on the left side because of injuries. Just before the match, it was announced that the wife of popular Zenit keeper Vyacheslav Malafeev died that morning in a car crash.

In Turkey's Süper Lig, U.S. striker Jozy Altidore played the second half for Bursaspor in a listless 0-0 draw with Ankaragucu on Monday.

In the Bank Asya second division, American midfielder Freddy Adu played the first hour and scored his second goal of the season for Caykur Rizespor in a 2-0 triumph over Akhisar Belediyespor.

In Belgium, U.S. midfielder Sacha Kljestan played the first half for RSC Anderlecht, a 3-2 winner Sunday over KAA Gent.

In Denmark's Superliga, American forward Chris Rolfe played the first half for Aalborg BK in its 2-1 victory Sunday over Lyngby, receiving a yellow card. American Marcus Tracy is sidelined for Aalborg with a knee injury

American defender Michael Parkhurst was on the bench for FC Nordsjaelland's 2-1 loss to Esbjerg on Sunday.

American defender Clarence Goodson is out with a broken toe and missed Brondby IF's 3-1 loss Sunday to FC Copenhagen.

In the second-tier First Division, U.S. midfielder Benny Feilhaber played the first half for AGF Aarhus in its 2-0 victory Friday over Hobro and received a yellow card.

In Norway, American midfielder Mikkel Diskerud went the distance for Stabaek IF, which was drubbed 7-0 by Lillestrom on Sunday.